Page 54 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
My stomach knotted. “How old are you?” I cringed in anticipation of Briar’s answer. We both ignored Aunt Aylie’s austere hiss.
“I’m 366 Danann years old,” Briar confessed. “I’m one of the fae who can revert to any previous age I’ve lived. When we rushed you here to safety, I reverted to your age, so you’d grow up with me.”
And so I wouldn’t be creeped out when you tried macking on me.
“What about the other Danann kids? Were they all old farts too?”
My word choice rankled Aunt Aylie, but Briar just chuckled. “A few were, yes, but most of them were actual Danann children, brought here with their families to create a true Danann community—so you’d feel like you belonged somewhere.”
Mission failed!
“What about Laurel?” I contemplated our joined hands, picturing hers wedged between them. “What was she?”
“She—uh—she’s a reverter too. But she isn’t that much older than you. She was about twenty when we crossed the portal.”
Was he already in love with her then?
Aunt Aylie harrumphed. “For heaven’s sake, Amy. Why do you look like you swallowed a lemon? I thought you liked Briar.”
Yes, I liked Briar. I always had. Was I attracted to him—hellyes. Did I enjoy talking to him, spending time with him? Very much. He was sweet and patient and cared about me. Just not exactly in the way I wished he did. Could that change?
Maybe. If hetriedhard enough.
My aunt gusted with frustration. “Didn’t you sleep with him?”
Holy mother of mortification!
“Aunt Aylie!” I flapped, my face burning.
“Oh, knock that off,” she sniped. “I’d swear you were a Puritan. Honestly, I’d be alarmed if you’d fought off the urge to mate on Beltane. Sex is part of life, not something to be embarrassed about. You need to embrace your sensual self.”
I chewed my lip, wanting to emulate all my favorite romance heroines’ freedom of sexual spirit. But did I really have to do it in front of my family?
“You should better acquaint yourself with it, Amy,” Aunt Aylie harangued. “One, because sex and the having of it are openly discussed topics at court, and you wouldn’t want to come off prudish to your subjects. And two, because you’ll need heirs—as many as those narrow hips can hold.”
Words failed me. All of them.
“Goddess willing, there’s already one sprouting in there.” Uncle Neel nodded at my middle.
I hiccupped on my appall.
Clearing his throat, Briar squeezed my hand. “Actually, there won’t be a faelet just yet.”
Oh, shit, I thought,Please, please,please,Briar, don’t tell them about the morning-after pill. The last thing I needed right then was their castigation for breaking the sacrament. And for poisoning myself.
Though Briar’s mouth slanted at me, he turned to my relatives and admitted, “I wore a condom both times we had sex.” He bowed his head, the epitome of contrition. “I broke the sacrament, and I beg the Mother’s forgiveness.”
I started in surprise. He was shouldering the blame for me?
Uncle Neel’s mouth wriggled, an angry worm.
Aunt Aylie balled her hands, stomped her foot. “Briar! Why in hell would you do that?”
“We all agreed impregnating her as soon as possible was best!” Uncle Neel blustered.
Who the fuck waswe?
“Yes, I remember, Cornelian. But Laurustinus raised her to think like an independent American woman.” He glanced at me, exasperated. “She wanted to practice safe sex, and I figured it was better for me to further our relationship than to argue and get nowhere.”
